NATO warns Russia after jet strays into Turkey

NATO has condemned Russian incursions into Turkish airspace as an "extreme danger" and demanded that Moscow halt all attacks against the Syrian opposition and civilians.

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The alliance summoned the ambassadors of its 28 member states on Monday for an emergency meeting to respond to what Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called "unacceptable violations of Turkish airspace".

"[We] strongly protest these violations of Turkish sovereign airspace and condemn these incursions into and violations of NATO airspace. [We] also note the extreme danger of such irresponsible behaviour," NATO said after the emergency meeting.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said his country was "greatly concerned" about the incursion over the weekend.

"We are greatly concerned about it because it is precisely the kind of thing that, had Turkey responded ... it could have resulted in a shootdown, and it is precisely the kind of thing we warned against," Kerry said during a visit to Chile.

'Mistake'

Earlier, Turkey's prime minister said Russia had described its warplane's violation of Turkey's airspace as a "mistake" while describing the country's entry into the conflict in Syria as an escalation.

Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in a live interview on HaberTurk TV on Monday, said that Turkey's rules of engagement were clear, whomever violates its airspace.

A Russian aircraft entered Turkish airspace near the Syrian border on Saturday, prompting Turkey to scramble two F-16 jets to intercept it and summon Russia's ambassador in protest.

"The Turkish armed forces are clearly instructed. Even if it is a flying bird, it will be intercepted," Davutoglu said.

He warned Turkey's enemies and allies not to infringe its airspace, but he dismissed the notion of tensions with Russia.

"The Syrian issue is not a Turkey-Russia crisis," he said.

"Our channels with Russia remain open," he said, hoping that Moscow would give up on "wrong attitudes".